Good Restaurants in Central (St Petersburg)

Pushka Inn Restaurant and Bar

Housed in an 18th century monument that is now a tourist hotel, this restaurant-cum-bar serves Russian cuisine with a twist - how does Duck with Baked Apple, Whortleberry Sauce and Mushrooms sound? No Russian meal is complete without the local staple - potatoes - and you'll certainly get plenty of them here! Boiled, baked, fried...you name it, and it'll be on your plate. Guzzle the local poison, vodka, while you watch a range of sports on the big screen. Friday nights feature live music, where you can try out the exuberant traditional Russian dance. There is a meager English menu too, and thankfully, an English-speaking staff, but when in Russia, it's advisable to do as the Russians do!

At Rudolph ll's

This restaurant shares its location, kitchen and even the chef (Alesh Sholts) with another Czech beer restaurant Gambrinus. The tables are covered with white and red cloths and the lay-out is classical. There's amour on the staircase, and a portrait of Rudolf in front of the bar. The main hall resembles a feast hall. Czech and Middle European cuisine is on offer. Special dishes such as rabbit in sour cream sauce or Duck with knedliki (famous Czech food) are really delicious. Don't forget to try the Czech national soups.

El Europe Restaurant

Variety is the spice of all at La Europe Restaurant and the culinary experts, seem to know this very well. Located at the Grand Hotel Europe, the diners are in for a surprise as the menu of this restaurant changes daily. Spicing it with authentic flavors of French and European cuisine, exotic dishes are served on the platter while you gaze at the elegant art nouveau interior. Enjoy the soulful harp music while having a buffet breakfast. And the evenings couldn't be better with the variety of entertainment hosted here along with an exquisite selection of wines and cigars!

Mezzanine Cafe

With red-colored comfy chairs and soothing decor, the Mezzanine Cafe at the Grand Hotel Europe provides the exact setting to unwind and relax. The glass canopy spans across the courtyard to allow natural daylight, which during summer is termed as 'White Nights' evenings. Here you are can find people chatting gaily over a cup of coffee. Come here to jump-start your day with a breakfast of delicious pastries and coffee. You can laze around in the afternoons with traditional tea and the light fare served here. But you can't stop drooling over the temptatious array of pastries including the famous homemade almond cake at the counter.

Lobby Bar

Located in the Grand Hotel Europe, the lobby bar cannot be missed for its just near the hotel's main entrance. The elegantly presented grandeur interior is ideal for a private conversation or just to enjoy the tranquil space. Savor the taste of the temptatious light fare including Russian caviar with blinis, nest of blue cheese with grapes and caprese salad. And sip on to the homemade flavored Russian vodka and luscious cocktails served here. If thats not enough, you have the finest collection of cigars to choose from the humidor. The live entertainment by Jazz and Blues musicians adds to the grand experience. Head here for a drink and snack or just some time alone any time of day or night.

Taleon Club

Initially built as a palace for Empress Elizabeth, Taleon Club was later developed by The Eliseevs with interiors inspired by the grand heritage of Italy and France. Taleon Club today houses a casino, restaurants, cigar lounge, fitness center and hotel. Elegant and beautiful, this place happens to be one of its kind. It also has a casino. For further details, check the website or call ahead.

A2 Club

An establishment which has a fabulous nightclub, restaurant and bar must certainly be a busy spot. Well, this is exactly the scenario at A2 Club and they are very proud of it. This friendly place boasts of one of the most spacious nightclubs in the city. Their restaurant serves some of the best Russian delicacies, while the bar serves a wide range of exotic cocktails. The resident DJ is always at his best, although they also host live gigs by popular DJs and local and international bands. This club is a complete package to say the least!

Da Vinci

A fine restaurant and a modern nightclub including erotic shows and festivals. The interior is influenced by the work of that most famous of famous Renaissance geniuses - Leonardo Da Vinci. The restaurant presents work by young and sometimes well-known local artists, available for sale. The menu is a mix of various world cuisines: Italian, Mexican, Russian, French and American. The dishes all have specific names, like the seafood The Last Supper or venison The Last Centaur.

Zolotaia Panda Cafe

This is an excellent Chinese restaurant tucked away on an untouristy street not far from Sennaia Ploshchad'. Nonetheless, it seems to do a brisk trade among a fairly sober, quiet and apparently non-criminal crowd. The decor is fairly standard for a Chinese restaurant, yes, there's even a little wooden bridge over a little rippling stream, and the nice Russian staff are decked out in Chinese gear. But it's not over the top and is spic and span. The excellent menu is in Russian and English and there's a good selection of wines from near and far.

Orient Bistro

Despite the name, you'll be hard pushed finding any chopsticks and noodles in here. Russian favourites like borshch, solianka, pike perch and shashlik are most definitely up there on the menu however and whilst it's true you'll be tucking into your order only minutes after you've paid for it, you might also find it'll take you only a few minutes to eat it. The portions they serve up here are a little erratically-measured and one's spoon can travel through the air for some time before plunging in to the soup steaming away lower-down in the bowl.

Orient Express

Situated about ten minutes walk from Nevskii Prospekt to the south, the miniature train engine thrusting out the front door is the obvious way to spot the place. The restaurant is divided into buffet and 'first and second class restaurant cars'. The interior of the buffet is similar to that on a suburban train. Hooting, tapping of wheels and station's sounds accompany the music all the time. Fortunately this is more pleasant than you might think. The menu is primarily European, although it includes a few dishes from Russia and Caucasia. Some of the dishes are cooked on an open fire. The Chicken Fillet in Peach Sauce with Cauliflower is recommended. Desserts are also satisfying.

Camelot

The name, of course, comes from King Arthur's legendary city. The majestic atmosphere of that mythical age is conjured up here with the help of a King Arthur figure made from wax, a few knights in armor and a luxurious fireplace. All the seats resemble thrones, with high backs and intricate carving. Tales about the Knights of the Round Table are written on the napkins. In cuisine terms, Camelot seems to stand at a cultural crossroads: Italian carpaccio, German ham, French escargot soup or Scandinavian steamed salmon. Guests can choose from two menus: one for knights (such as Casserole of Rabbit cooked in white wine) and another for royalty (fancier dishes like Saddle of Lamb with hot tomato sauce).